Interracial Couple Faces Prejudice, 'Purity' Complaints

What would you do if you saw a white man and a black woman harassed at a bar?

ByABC News
January 3, 2011, 12:34 PM

Jan. 21, 2011 — -- America is known for being a nation of immigrants -- the great "Melting Pot" of people who have come from all over the world. But with each generation, some of that original culture is lost forever. It's one thing to take pride in preserving our own ethnic culture, but do we have the right to impose our beliefs on others?

What happens when someone so passionate about keeping their culture "pure" decides to publicly voice their opinion in protest of an interracial couple? What would you do if you saw an interracial couple being berated simply because they don't share the same skin tone? To find out,"What Would You Do?" took its hidden cameras to a popular sports bar in Hoboken, N.J., called Texas Arizona.

Actors Hassan and Bianca play our African American bigots, outraged at the sight of a white man (Jeremy) sitting at the bar on a date with his young African American girlfriend (Nicole).

Hassan acts upset.

"What's happening is more and more of our black race is starting to diminish!" he shouts at the sight of our interracial couple, who are also actors.

"Could you just leave us alone and let us enjoy our moment?" Nicole pleads, after the "racist" has made one too many comments.

But Hassan just won't back down. He and Bianca, angry at the sight of our interracial couple cozying up together at the bar, turn up the volume of their discontent. It's not until after our racists leave that Jeremy and Nicole receive any sympathy from the others listening at the bar.

"I'm so sorry… don't worry about it, everyone has their opinion. Cheers everyone!" says a young woman nearby, trying to diffuse the tension. She has no idea she's on hidden camera, part of our WWYD scenario.

When our racist couple returns for another round of protest, things get a little more personal.

"Why are you not with an eligible black man?" Hassan asks. "What's going to happen when you guys are going to have children?"

As soon as Hassan leaves the bar, bar mate Denay Riley quickly chimes in.

"I get it all the time… My boyfriend is actually white and that's why I felt bad," she says.